Devin T. Eucker-Jennings

Devin Tate “D” Eucker-Jennings, 20, of Colona, passed away Thursday, April 6th at the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology floor, in Peoria following a courageous battle with cancer. 

Devin touched so many lives with his kindness, generosity, selflessness, wit, and humor.  He strived to put others needs ahead of his own.  He fought Ewing’s Sarcoma for the past three years with unmeasurable strength, without complaint, and never asked “why me?”  His character as a person is humbling.  Devin was a beautiful soul and a great human.

As a child, Devin participated in soccer, softball, and cub scouts.  He was fascinated with space and science.  He graduated from Geneseo High School in May, 2020.

Devin’s creativity and talents shown through from the beginning.  He drew from the time he could hold a pen.  Starting with doodling in his Blue’s Clues notebook and refusing to color in standard coloring books because they were not his own creations.

Devin was also very musically inclined.  He first began playing the drums when he was 7 years old.  He then played the trumpet in the school band from 6th grade through 11th grade.  He taught himself to play the keyboard and an ocarina.  His musical taste was very eclectic and wide ranged.

His biggest passion was his art.  His mediums for drawing included pencils, pens, markers, charcoal, but mostly he loved to create utilizing his computer drawing tablet.  Devin’s 5-minute doodles were amazing.  He was extremely critical of his own work and very much a perfectionist.  He enjoyed helping others and pushed them to become better artist and to not settle for mediocracy.  He helped them gain confidence in their abilities and greatness as artist.

He has been working on a project that he created shortly after being initially diagnosed.  One of the main characters is a super hero ill with cancer.  In November of 2022, we traveled to Houston, Texas for his Make-A-Wish.  While there he was able to record portions of his script for his anime short at a professional recording studio with voice actor,  John Swasey.  Unfortunately, he was unable to complete the project.

Devin is survived by his loving parents Dean Jennings of East Moline, and Juanita Eucker of Colona; his “turtle” twin Dallas Eucker-Jennings of Colona; grandparents Ray Jennings of Tucson, AZ and Wilma Eucker of Elyria, OH; as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins.  He will be missed by many friends near and far.  He is preceded in death by his equally brave grandfather William G. “Jerry” Eucker, his grandmother Madeline M. “Mady” Jennings, and precious cousins Jason Everson and Damon Jennings.

We wish to give a special thank you to his cousin, Kenny Dahlberg, for pausing his life for the past 2 years to help with Devin and Dallas’s care and with Devin’s transportation to and from treatment.

A memorial visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory with services following at 3:00 pm officiated by Pastor Chet McCoy.  The service will be livestreamed at www.vandemorefuneralhome.com/live-stream.  Reception details yet to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate or to the Ronald McDonald House Charities at www.rmhc.org.  Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.vandemorefuneralhome.com.